Malcolm Gladwell: I'm not idiosyncratic

Malcolm Gladwell attributes his success to being interested in the middle-of-the-road topics which affect everyone.

In an interview with the Guardian, the author and journalist, who achieved fame with The Tipping Point in 2000, said that his trademark values and assumptions stem from coming from a family without 'exotic tastes'.

However, Gladwell admitted that it is a 'happy circumstance' that these interests are shared by the majority of the reading public.

The author also revealed that he can only write when surrounded by people, despite his reputation for being introverted, because he spent many years working in the bustle of a newsroom.

A recent Guardian review of Gladwell's latest book, What the Dog Saw, described it as 'perfectly crafted' and applauded the author's ability to illustrate academic constructs through stories of everyday life.